Heat exchanger distributor

ABSTRACT

In a heat exchanger having a plurality of plate-like passages defined by substantially parallel, spaced-apart plates, first and second inlet headers positioned at opposed ends of the plates for passing a first fluid through a plurality of first fluid passages and a second fluid through a plurality of second fluid passages each being adjacent and separating first passages, and means for passing of the first and second fluids through their respective passages, a conduit is positioned in each of the second fluid passages, said conduit extending into the adjacent first fluid passage, at a point near the inlet header, said conduit having a plurality of openings extending along the length thereof.

United States Patent n91 Young 1 1 HEAT EXCHANGER DISTRIBUTOR Richard K. Young, Bartlesville, Okla [73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company,

Bartlesville. Okla.

[22] Filed: Nov. 12, 1973 [21] Appl No: 415,136

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Scr. No 209071, Dec. 17.

I971 abandoned [75] lnventor:

[52] U5. Cl. 4. 165/167; 62/39 [51] Int. Cl. F281 3/14 [58] Field of Search 165/166, 108 167,60;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.212277 111/1965 Harher ct al n 62/23 1281334 11/1966 Stahlhebcr 165/166 HOT VAPOR [ll] [45] July 1975 3.291.704 12/1966 Diedrich ct a1. .r 165/166 Primary Eranu'ner-Manuel A Antonakas Assixrun! E.t'aminerTheophil Wt Streule, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT In a heat exchanger having a plurality of plate-like passages defined by substantially parallel. spacedapart plates, first and second inlet headers positioned at opposed ends of the plates for passing a first fluid through a plurality of first fluid passages and a second fluid through a plurality of second fluid passages each being adjacent and separating first passages. and means for passing of the first and second fluids through their respective passages, a conduit is positioned in each of the second fluid passages, said conduit extending into the adjacent first fluid passage at a point near the inlet header, said conduit having a plurality of openings extending along the length thereof.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 4 1- -co LD VAPOR Pmmwwm I915 3.895676 SHEET 1 HOT VAPOR COLD VAPOR FIG.

HOT VAPOR INVENTOR. R. K.YOUNG cow VAPOR 63 E Q FIG. 2

ATTORNEKS PATENTED JUL 2 2 m5 HEU HOT VAPOR j LIQUID AND COLD VAPOR CO L. D VAPOR LlQUlD FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

R. K.YOUNG W J M A T TORNEYS HEAT EXCHANGER DISTRIBUTOR This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 209.071 filed Dec. 17. 1971, now abandoned.

It is desired to provide a heat exchanger having improved removable means for more uniformly distributing a third fluid into a second fluid which passes in an indirect heat exchange with a first fluid and being removable for servicing the heat exchanger. An example use of such a heat exchanger would be in refrigeration apparatus as is known in the art.

In summary. this invention resides in an improved heat exchanger having a plurality of passages formed by a plurality of substantially parallel spaced-apart plates for the passage of first and second fluids through their respective passages in opposed directions with the first fluid passages being separated one from the other by an intervening second fluid passage wherein a conduit is positioned in each of the second fluid passages, said conduit extending into the adjacent first fluid passage. said conduit extending along the width of the second passage in a direction transverse the direction of the flow of the second fluid through said second passage. Each conduit has a plurality of openings along its length for the distribution of a third fluid passing through the conduit into the second fluid.

Other aspects. objects. and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the disclosure. the appended claims, and the drawings.

The drawings are diagrammatic views of the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. I diagramatically shows an example heat exchanger,

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the heat exchanger with the first embodiment of this invention. and

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the heat exchanger with a second embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. I, the heat exchanger 2 has a plurality of platelike first and second fluid passages 4, 6, first inlet and outlet headers 8, l and second inlet and outlet headers l2, 14. As better seen in conjunction with FIG. 2, each set of headers 8, or l2, 14 of the first drawing are associated with a plurality of substantially parallel spaced-apart plates 16 with the passages 4 and 6 being defined by said plates 16. The first inlet and outlet headers 8, 10 are associated with first fluid passages 4. connected to the respective plates 16 and are open to the first fluid passages 4 for the passage of a first fluid therethrough. The second inlet and outlet headers l2, 14 are associated with the second fluid pas sages 6, connected to the respective plates 16, and are open into the second fluid passages 6 for the passage of the second fluid therethrough. The first fluid passages 4 are separated one from the other by intervening second fluid passages 6. Pumps 18. 20, or other means. are associated with the inlet headers 8, 12 for passing the first and second fluids. generally hot and cold vapors respectively, through their respective passages 4. 6. Generally. these heat exchangers have fins positioned in the fluid passages 4. 6. These general types of heat exchangers are known in the art and are shown. for example. in US. Pat. No. 3.282.334. A fluid. preferably a liquid is introduced along the transverse length of each second fluid passageway 6 at a point adjacent header 12 by means of conduit 22 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably the apparatus is disposed as shown in the figures with conduit 22 at the bottom so as to pass cold vapor and cold liquid up and hot vapor down.

in these heat exchangers. the third fluid, generally liquid. is distributed into the second fluid at a location adjacent the second inlet header 12. Referring to H6. 2, a conduit 22 is positioned in each of the second fluid passages 6 adjacent the second inlet header 12. Each of the conduits 22 extend along the passages 6 in a direction transverse the direction from the first inlet to the first outlet header 8, 10. Each of the conduits 22 have a plurality of fluid exit openings 24 formed along its length and opening into the respective second fluid passages 6 for passing and distributing a third fluid from the conduit into their respective second fluid passages 6.

In order to assure more even distribution of the third fluid into the second passageway 6, it is preferred that the ratio of the cross sectional area of the opening 26 of each of the conduits 22 is greater than about 2 times the total cross sectional areas of the fluid exit openings 24 of the respective conduit 22. At less than about 2 times the area, small flow rate deviations would cause a marked difference in the distribution of the third fluid. At greater than about 2 times the area, the flow from each of the openings 24 will remain substantially the same relative one to the others.

For further assuring more uniform distribution. it is preferred that the fluid exit openings 24 of each of the conduits 22 be substantially the same cross sectional area and be positioned substantially an equal distance along the length of the respective conduit 22 one from the other. These fluid exit openings 24 can be of any desirable configuration.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment is shown wherein at least a portion of the fluid exit openings 24. preferably all of the openings 24, of at least a portion of the conduits 22, preferably all of the conduits 22, are oriented in a direction substantially normal to an adjacent plate 16. This is preferred where a liquid is flowing through the second passages 6 and vapor is flowing through the conduit 22. This orientation assists in breaking up the vapor and more evenly distributing it through the liquid and/or forming a mist with the liquid. Here the adjacent plates 16 function as a baffle for breaking up the stream.

Longitudinally extending spaced-apart plugging bars 28 are positioned between adjacent plates 16 with the hot vapor being removed via header 10 as shown in FIG. 1. This reduces the length of the passage 4 only an amount about equal to the diameter of conduit 22 since bar 28 would be utilized in any event to direct the hot vapor toward header 10. Since little meaningful heat exchange takes place prior to introduction of the fluid. preferably a liquid. from conduit 22 into the fluid, preferably a vapor. in passage 6 the presence of the upper bar 28 is of no disadvantage. Use of this space to house a portion of the circumference of conduit 22, however gives a disproportionately great advantage since it more than doubles the maximum diameter of conduit 22. If conduit 22 were entirely within passage 6 it would have to be so small it would be susceptible to plugging and it would limit the size of openings 24 since. as noted hereinabove. the total cross sectional area of opening 26 should be greater than about 2 times the total cross sectional area of openings 24. Thus the outside of conduit 22 is within the range of l.] to 2 preferably 1.3 to 1.9. times the average spacing between thrce adjacent plates 16 which form one hot and one cold vapor passage. With a diameter of two times the spacing between plates there is still a passage for vapor in passage 6 equal to the thickness of plate 16. Preferably the cold vapor passages will be l.l(l to l.5() times as thick as the hot vapor passages as a result of the plates forming said second passages being spaced apart a distance of 1.1 to 1.5 times a distance said plates forming said first passage are spaced apart.

CALCULATED ILLUSTRATIVF EMBOD] MFNT Heat Exchanger Dimensions Hot Vapor Passagewa l7 passages having a thickness of H21)" and having (I 2t)" high perforated fins thereinv l4 fins/inch .tllB" fin thicknessv each passage 32" wide and 5 ft.

long. total free cross section 0.58 ft.

(old Vapor Passageway IE passages having a thickness of 0.25" and having 0.25" high /11 inch lanced fins therein. [5 fins/inch .Ul'l" fin thickness. each passage 32" wide and 5 ft.

long, total free cross section (L78 ft.

Stream Properties Hot Vapor Stream flow rate 30.000 lb/hr composition 8959? (H l(l.5'7r H.

lnlet temperature (JF Inlet pressure I 505 p l33F [CH totally condensed) Outlet temperature I Outlet pressure 50H psia Cold Vapor Stream flow rate 26850 lh/hr composition l()(l% (H sia lnlet temperature -7F inlet pressure Jo psin Liquid Stream liquefied methane Inlet temperature 2U5F inlet pressure Hill psia liquid injected into cold vapor stream through two (one from each side) 7/l6" oo-ozo wall In long tubes/passage. Total of 36 tubes per heat exchanger Tube having (1.035" diameter orifices on A inch centers through which liquid passes at a velocity of i5 ftjsec.

Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion, embodiment. and accompanying drawings, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

I claim:

I. A heat exchanger-distributor, comprising:

at least first, second and third spaced-apart plates forming at least first and second passages extending in a common substantially vertical direction;

first means adjacent a first end of said passages for passing a first fluid through the first passage in a first direction;

second means adjacent a second end of said passages for passing a second fluid through the second passage in a second direction, said second direction being opposed to said first direction; and

third means, adjacent said second end of said passages and disposed between said first and second means, for passing a third fluid through the second fluid passage and distributing said third fluid into the second fluid in the second fluid passage for forming a resultant mixture and passing the mixture in the second fluid passage into heat exchange relationship with the first fluid in the first fluid pas- (ill 2. A heat exchanger-distributor, as set forth in claim I, wherein the cross-sectional area of the opening of the conduit is greater than about two times the total cross-sectional areas of the fluid exit openings of the respective conduit.

3. A heat exchanger-distributor. as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the fluid exit openings of the conduit are of substantially the same cross-sectional area and is positioned substantially equal distances one from the other along the length of the respective conduit.

4. A heat exchanger-distributor. asset forth in claim I. wherein at least a portion of the openings of the conduit are oriented in a direction substantially normal to the direction of flow of the second fluid.

S. A heat exchanger-distributor as set forth in claim I wherein said conduit is removable.

6. A heat exchanger-distributor as set forth in claim I wherein said heat exchanger-distributor is oriented so that said third means is located adjacent the bottom thereof so as to pass said mixture upwardly.

7. A heat exchanger-distributor. as set forth in claim I, wherein said plates forming said second passages are spaced apart a distance of LI to l.5 times a distance said plates forming said first passage are spaced apart. 

1. A heat exchanger-distributor, comprising: at least first, second and third spaced-apart plates forming at least first and second passages extending in a common substantially vertical direction; first means adjacent a first end of said passages for passing a first fluid through the first passage in a first direction; second means adjacent a second end of said passages for passing a second fluid through the second passage in a second direction, said second direction being opposed to said first direction; and third means, adjacent said second end of said passages and disposed between said first and second means, for passing a third fluid through the second fluid passage and distributing said third fluid into the second fluid in the second fluid passage for forming a resultant mixture and passing the mixture in the second fluid passage into heat exchange relationship with the first fluid in the first fluid passage, said third means comprising a conduit, having an outside diameter of 1.1 to 2.0 times an average spacing between three plates forming one first and one second fluid passage, positioned in said first fluid passage and extending into said second fluid passage with said conduit having a plurality of fluid exit openings formed along its length and opening into said second fluid passage.
 2. A heat exchanger-distributor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein thE cross-sectional area of the opening of the conduit is greater than about two times the total cross-sectional areas of the fluid exit openings of the respective conduit.
 3. A heat exchanger-distributor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the fluid exit openings of the conduit are of substantially the same cross-sectional area and is positioned substantially equal distances one from the other along the length of the respective conduit.
 4. A heat exchanger-distributor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the openings of the conduit are oriented in a direction substantially normal to the direction of flow of the second fluid.
 5. A heat exchanger-distributor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit is removable.
 6. A heat exchanger-distributor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat exchanger-distributor is oriented so that said third means is located adjacent the bottom thereof so as to pass said mixture upwardly.
 7. A heat exchanger-distributor, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plates forming said second passages are spaced apart a distance of 1.1 to 1.5 times a distance said plates forming said first passage are spaced apart. 